Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger joined teammates on Monday for a charity golf tournament, one of his first public appearances since being suspended in April.

Roethlisberger did not make a statement, but was captured by local TV stations golfing and interacting with his playing partners.

"Life isn't over for him," Steelers WR Hines Wardtold KDKA-TV of Roethlisberger. "He has to go on and deal with the consequences. But coming out today is just the first step of many.

"I'm proud that he came out and showed his support."

Roethlisberger was suspended six games for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. He was ordered into behavioral counseling and prohibited from participating in offseason team activities while the counseling is ongoing.

The league has not yet cleared Roethlisberger to work out with the team, and the Steelers have an OTA set for Tuesday.

Former Steelers RB Merril Hoge, one of the hosts of the event with Ward, said he has seen positive steps out of Roethlisberger.

"I think, in visiting with him in the last week or two, I see a different energy about Ben," Hoge told WTAE-TV.

"It is kind of a platform for him to, you know, reconcile with the fans and show them he has changed and he wants to be not just a better player, but a person." -- Sean Leahy

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate